March of Dimes: Ready, set, march for babies

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Stelse, March of Dimes, 608.243.7764, jstelse@marchofdimes.com

March of Dimes biggest fundraiser helps babies be born healthy

(Madison, WI) April 20, 2010—On Saturday, May 1st in downtown Madison, local families and business will rally together to celebrate babies for the annual March of Dimes March for Babies walk. This year, participants will be even more inspired to participate and raise funds for the cause.

Walkers will have opportunity to give back to the community through March of Dimes new “Pass It On” program. Walkers who fundraise will earn items such as prenatal vitamins, diapers, clothing, car seats and cribs for local families. March of Dimes has partnered with American Family Children’s Hospital to identify recipients of greatest need. The number and types of items donated will be based on how much individuals are able to fundraise.

“Implementing our new Pass It On incentive program is a step in the right direction,” said Jennifer Stelse, March of Dimes Madison Division Director. “We believe that participants’ fundraising can make twice the impact than ever before—funding vital March of Dimes programs and directly aiding families in need.”

With one out of every eight babies born premature, many families are directly impacted by the mission of March of Dimes. This year’s local ambassador family, the Johnsons, understand how important participation in March for Babies is. Tammy and Justin will be walking in honor of their daughter, Alli. Alli, now 2, was born eleven weeks early weighing only 2 pounds 1 ounce. She was a mere 14 inches long. Alli spent an amazing six weeks in the neo natal intensive care unit at Meriter Hospital. While Alli was fortunate to not have any major problems from being born too soon, the Johnsons still worry about how her premature birth will affect her overall health as she gets older.

“We are honored to be the 2010 Madison Ambassador Family,” said Johnson. “We hope by telling our story we can inspire others to get involved and fundraise for this important cause. We don’t want another family to have to go through the heartbreak of watching their baby try to survive being born too soon. All babies deserve a healthy start and March of Dimes is working hard to help make that a reality.”

Local families like the Johnson’s, along with businesses such as presenting sponsors Dean and St. Mary’s will come out in force as March for Babies participants and fundraisers so that one day all babies will be born healthy.

“Health care providers, like St. Mary’s, are doing great things to give our smallest patients the best chance possible for healthy, happy lives,” says Dr. Frank Byrne, President of St. Mary’s Hospital. “My family knows from personal experience how heart-wrenching it is when your child requires neonatal intensive care to survive. We’re proud to partner with the March of Dimes because we, too, dream of a day when no parent has to go through something like this.”

Registration for the Madison walk begins at 8:30 am at the 200 Block of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. A short program will begin at 9am, with the walk officially kicking off at 9:30am. After a scenic two or four-mile walk through State Street and the UW Campus, participants will enjoy fun, food and festivities at the start/finish area including music, inflatable games, face painting, mascots and more. To register, visit http://www.marchforabies.org.

Madison’s March for Babies is sponsored by Dean Health Clinic, St. Mary’s Hospital, CUNA Mutual Group, Epic, Group Health Cooperative, NBC 15, Q106, UW Health/American Family Children’s Hospital, Meriter Hospital, Dental Health Associates, New Glarus Brewing Co., Sub-Zero, Woodman’s, 1st Auto Casualty Insurance and the Little Gym of Middleton.

Funds raised by March for Babies in help support prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With Chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit http://www.marchofdimes.com or http://www.nacersano.org.